These are usually at our teaching apiary where we have a large number of colonies for demonstration purposes. Scheduled meetings are normally held every third Saturday and third Wednesday during the summer, and there is an opportunity to talk bees and purchase equipment after meetings. There will be separate dates for those in the "Preliminary" group, see below for details.
We welcome visitors who must book in, and we can provide protective equipment. Saturday meetings are followed by tea.
The apiary is closed between meetings, and nobody should visit without the permission of a Committee Member.
When visiting the apiary can all visitors please drive and park in a sensible manner as there are usually a large number of vehicles.
For Sat (and Sun) meetings we usually have two groups, the "Beginners" start at 12.00 and the "Advanced" at 2.30. The "Beginners" will concentrate on handling skills and a bit of theory, and the "Advanced" will be encouraged to learn as much as they wish to. If conditions allow beginners are free to stay after 2.30 when the groups are streamed if necessary. Wednesday meetings are streamed.
We often have special interest meetings organised at short notice, and these will be put on the diary below and sent round by email. It is your responsibility to log on regularly to avoid missing anything.
We have ten approved Demonstrators allowing us to give tuition in groups or on a one-to-one basis.
Please note there will be BBQ facilities after EVERY Wednesday evening meeting throughout the season. Please bring your own food, cutlery etc..
Please check regularly in case dates or arrangements are changed.
The influx of new people into beekeeping in recent years is giving Beekeeping Associations a problem as there are far more people wishing to learn than there are experienced and knowledgeable beekeepers. There is normally a smooth natural progression and we can usually satisfy the needs of all, but if there is an imbalance it means the advanced level beekeepers can be neglected, and we must make sure that doesn't happen. Many BKAs are dealing with it by simply not accepting any more beginners, or are not putting on Beginners Classes. At Wisborough Green we think that attitude is short sighted and we are taking positive steps to meet demand. Our 2010 Beginners Day was oversubscribed so we arranged a second one that was also full, giving us contact with over 200 people who are relatively new to beekeeping. We had 50-70 attendees at most apiary meetings in 2009 and we are expecting more in 2010. This is difficult to manage and is not attractive to those who prefer smaller groups.
We have ten approved Demonstrators who we rely on heavily, and bearing in mind some of them have only a few years' experience we must make sure they have an opportunity to further their own beekeeping.
As a trial in 2010 we propose to split apiary sessions into four groups:-
These will initially be all those new to beekeeping in 2010, or very late 2009. They will be in the very early stages of beekeeping and we will have meetings specifically for them, on a different day from our main apiary meetings. Members of this group will probably come to several meetings before being invited to join the Beginners/Intermediate groups at scheduled meetings. They will be assessed by the Demonstrators on their ability to learn and handle bees on their own. We do not recommend those in this group purchase any bees or equipment until being moved into the Beginners/Intermediate group. Meetings will be arranged on an ad-hoc basis depending on demand, and availability of Demonstrators. Dates will be advertised on the website and in a circular email and it is your responsibility to check regularly. As we have restrictions on the availability of Demonstrators and protective equipment, and in order to make group sizes suitable for learning, places at each preliminary meeting must be booked in advance. Those in the Preliminary group will not be asked for a subscription. PLEASE DO NOT TURN UP TO SCHEDULED MEETINGS.
These will have progressed from the Preliminary group, but not have attained the knowledge or colony handling skills of the Intermediate stage. They will typically be in their first 2 years of beekeeping, but once again will be subject to assessment by the Demonstrators, as some may progress faster than others. It is incredible how quickly some learn and they may be invited to join more advanced groups as well. It is expected that some in this group may not yet have their own bees. All those in this group will normally pay a subscription.
This is where we would expect most of our members to be as this is where much of the basic learning will be done. In this group you will learn and develop your skills so you can competently handle a number of full colonies on your own, including swarm control, simple queen rearing, colony assessment, disease recognition and control, making increase from within your own colonies, honey harvesting and processing, etc..
Will have gained enough knowledge and skill to handle full colonies competently without help, and have a sound knowledge of common colony management techniques and diseases. You will have the ability to deal with the vast majority of problems you may have thrown at you, or have the potential to do so. You would normally have a number of colonies of your own.
We all learn at different rates and some find beekeeping easy, whilst others will find it much more difficult. A colony of bees is basically a box with a wild animal in it, and in the wrong hands could be a problem, not only to the beekeeper, but bystanders and neighbours as well. We therefore feel a responsibility to highlight a potential problem if we see it, and it may be that we have to inform some that we feel beekeeping isn't for them.
We hope everyone will support us in trying to deal with this complex issue and can see that by arranging members into ability groups we can provide better tuition suitable to the ability of the individual. Our scheduled meetings become very hectic for those involved and we are trying to help them enjoy their own beekeeping. After all, we give our time to this voluntarily and it is a hobby that should be fun.
Although we probably have more colonies for tuition than any other BKA in the country our bees are heavily overworked and subject to a lot of stress. The cohesion of a colony is disturbed every time it is opened and this also greatly lowers the temperature of a broodnest which has to put right by the bees. On Saturdays some colonies are inspected several times and they are always open far longer than they should be. It is hoped the new arrangements will be kinder to the bees as well as allowing us to give better training to aspiring and established beekeepers.
We are committed to assisting the more gifted to move ahead as fast as their ability allows, and it must be accepted that some will go into the next group faster than others.
It is only those in the Preliminary group who need to book into meetings. This will normally be by email only to Roger Patterson roger-patterson@btconnect.com (Cc Tom Moore) or in emergency 01403 790 637 or mobile 07976 306 492. Make sure you have a reply. If Roger is unavailable then try Tom Moore stone.house@btinternet.com 01798 343 470. This will allow us to put you in a group and allocate you a Demonstrator before the meeting.
We will not normally allow attendees to turn up without booking. If you are unable to attend after booking please phone to cancel as someone else may be waiting for a place. We would normally try to accommodate all those who wish to book in but there are limitations on protective equipment and availability of Demonstrators.
Roger Patterson